Especially in the light of a little conversation which took place during the usual afternoon call which I was paying her on the very day before.
"I see that some more ignorant and wicked persons have joined themselves in what they call a Thirteen Club."
She was looking at a newspaper, and I was thinking of Gardiner's obstinacy in insisting on having skeletons for menu holders. Her words, which were entirely unexpected, made me jump.
"Adeline, whoever told you that?"
"It's in the paper."
"In the paper!"
For an instant I felt as if I were in imminent danger of a paralytic stroke. Whoever could have put it in the paper? Had they dared to mention any names? Fortunately it appeared that they had not. Her next remark, however, added to my sense of discomfiture.
"It says in the paper that the whole thirteen of them are going to dine together to-morrow. To show, I suppose, how stupid people can be if they like. It will serve them right if they're all dead within the year."
"Adeline!"
Under the circumstances it was dreadful to hear her say such things. But she went on, wholly regardless of what I might be feeling.